Traveling electrical contactor



Sept.v 16, 1941. 5. w. BENBow 2,255.874

' TRAVELING ELECTRICAL CONTACTOR Filed Dec. 10, 1940 INVENTOR fiur/As 14 fienbow ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAVELING COhTTAC'IOR Blll'fll W. WOW, Mm, Application Mb 1., IMQQW N0. 369,421 1z Claims. (cLisi-zz) This invention relates generally to electrical equipment of the type making use of a traveling contacting device together with one or more extended electrical conductors. Such devices can an improved electrical contacting device'to provide a maximum contacting surface between the trolley wire and the device with'minimized wear both on the contacting surfaces and on the insulation material about such surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a traveling contacting device of the character referred to which avoids the necessity for brushes, slip rings, and the like. 7

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of a traveling electrical contactor embodying my invention in cooperative relation with an extended electrical conductor.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the view being taken in planes indicated by the line 2- 2 in Figure 1.-

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a modified form of traveling electrical contactor, the view being partially in section.

The apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an extended electrical conductor or trolley wire II which is disposed within a sheath of insulating material The trolley wire II is adapted to cooperate with a traveling electrical contacting device indicated generally at 2, which is described in detail hereinafter.

.The sheath II is preferably made from a molded plastic whlch'has sufficient strength to properly retain the conductor, for example Bakelite or the like phenolic condensate products. Usually the sheath |l will-be manufactured in two parts l2 and II; The lower part I4 is provided with-a-pair of raised ribs II whichseat in corresponding longitudinal grooves fin the lower face .of the upper part ll. The M part It may also be provided with a longitudinal reinforcing rib ll.

The lower part ll of the sheath is provided with a series of openings It to expose spacedv apart portions of the wire II and between the for cooperation with the traveling contacting device later described.

' The traveling electrical contacting device |2 comprises a series of articulated conductor ele- -ments 2| which are preferably formed as teeth. The adjacent elements 2| are connected by suitable articulated links 22. The series of elements H are trained about a pair of pulley wheels 23 of insulating material such as "Bakelite which have suitable bearings or bushings 24 iournaled about respective shafts 25. suitably clamped to an adjacent frame plate 26 which is provided with a laterally extending bar or post 21 for support from the appliance on which it is carried.

The electrical contacting device is provided with a longitudinally extending bus bar 2| which may be provided in sections 3|a, 3|b,'- and llc, which are secured on a bracket 22 of insulating material by suitable fastening studs 22. Bracket 22 is secured on plate 26 by suitable fastening studs 24. Preferably, a resilient mounting for the bus bar II on the bracket 22 is provided by means of a rubber cushion 38. In this way the bus bar sections are mounted for slight yielding movement. In a recessed side of the supporting plate an insulating plate 31 may bemounted to prevent accidental contact of the conductor elements with the metal portions of the frame plate. The bus bar 2| may be electrically connected tothe motor of the appliance as by means of an'elect'rical conducting cable 38. A

. In orderto minimize friction between the teeth comprising the conductor elements 2| and the 36 teeth ll of the sheath'at the beginning and end 40 effective diameter. greater than their diameter when traveling about the pulleys 22. Also the teeth 2| are formed for operation at a pitch diameter smaller than their effective diameter whenengaged with teeth ll, thereby increasing the clearance as the teeth 2| engage and leave the teeth II. In this way as the conductor teeth 2| begin their travel in engagement with the trolley wire sheath,they do not have driving contact with the teeth ll of the sheath.- A similar action obtains as the teeth 2| leave their conducting position.

In operation, as the appliance moves along its track, the conductor elements or teeth 2| are driven by their engagement with the teeth I! open n s s provided with a eries of teeth ll of the trolley wire sheath so that they slide along The shafts 25 are over the bus bar as they engage the trolley wire I through the openings it. As seen in Figure 2,

preferably the engaging race of the teeth are made slightly concave for maximum contact with the wire I 0. Because of the resilient mounting for the bus bar, the teeth are maintained at all n times in firm engagement with both the trolley wire and the bus bar to provide a good conducting surface between the wireand the bus bar. The form of the invention shown in Figure 3 is particularly adapted for use in installations where sharp turns are required. In this modification, the sheath H and its trolley wire III are identical in construction to that shown in Figures 1 and 2. The traveling articulated series or conductor elements or teeth 2| are also similar a Y in construction. The teeth are trained about a single pulley 234 which is similar to the pulleys 23 and similarly mounted in a bracket or plate 2641. Plate 28a carries a bus bar ll of special construction having a central portion a beation of the contacting device of Figure 3 is similar to that of Figure 1, and is more readily adaptable toturns because .of the smaller number of teeth in operationrat the same time.

Iclaim: 1 1. A traveling ,contactor for a trolley wire comprising a bus bar mounted for movement parallel .to' and in spaced relation .to the trolley wire, and

an endless series of articulated conductorelementsmounted for movement between said bus bar and said wire to provide a conducting path 'therebetween. 7

2. A-traveling contactor for a trolleywire comprising a bus bar mounted for movement parallel to and in spaced relation. to the trolley .wire, re-

silient means supporting said busgbar, and an endless series of articulated conductor elements 7 mounted for movement between said bus bar and said wire to provide a conducting path there- 3. A traveling prising a bus bar mounted for movement parallel to and'in spaced relation to the trolley wire,; a pulleywheel of insulating material at'either end of said bus bar, and an endless series of articulated conductor elements trained about said pulley wheels for travel over-said bus bar in contact therewith and in contact with said .trolley 4. A traveling contractor for a trolley wirecomprising a bus bar mountedior movement parallel V to and in spaced relation to thetrolley wire, a

pulley wheel of insulating material at either end a of said bus bar, said bus bar being elevated above saidpulleys,- and an endless series of articulated conductor elements trained about said pulley contactor ior a trolley wire coma tween respective curved end portions b and lic are provided for guiding the teeth from the single pulley wheel 23a up to the bus bar 4| The o'per-r wheels for travel over said" bus bar in contact I therewith and in contact with said trolley wire. a 5. A traveling contactor for a trolley wire comprising a bus bar mounted for movement parallel to and inspaced relation to thetrolley wire, a

- pulley wheel of insulatingmaterial'at either end ofv saidbusbanand an endless series 01' articulated conductor elements. trained about said' 7 'pulleyi wheels for travel over said bus bar in contact therewith and in pontact with said trolley wire, said elements being formed as teeth for engagement with corresponding teeth of the trolley wireconstruction. V v

6. .A traveling contactor for a trolley wire comprising a bus bar mounted for movement parallel to and in spaced relation to the trolley wire, said busbar being of sectional construction, a pulley wheel of insulating material at either end of 'said bus bar, and an endless series of articulated conductor elements trained about said pulley wheels for travel over said bus bar in contact therewith and in contact with said trolley wire, said elements being formed as teeth for engagement with corresponding teeth of the trolley wire con-- struction.

'7. A traveling contactor for a trolley wire comprising a bus bar mounted for movement parallel to and in-spaced relation to the trolley wire, a

pulley wheel of insulating material at either end' of said bus bar, and an endless series of articulated conductor elements trained about said pulley wheels for travel over said bus bar in contact therewith and in contact with said trolley wire, said elements being iormed as teeth for engagement with corresponding teeth of the trolley wire construction, said teeth being formed about a pitch diameter smaller than the pitch diameter of their travel with respect to said trolley teeth.

, 8. A traveling contactor for a trolley wire comprising a bus bar mounted for movement parallel wire construction, said teeth beingformed about a V pitch diameter smaller than the pitchdiameter of their travel with respect to said trolleyteeth.

9. A traveling contactor construction comprising an extended conductor having a sheathoi insulating material and an extended trolley wire supportedtherein; said sheath including teeth providing spaced openings therebetween exposing portions of said wire, a traveling contactor including a bus bar for movementparallel to and spaced from saidwire, an endless series of articu lated teeth for engaging the teeth of said sheath and for contacting said wire while also engaged with said bu bar, and means for supporting said t teeth for movement as the contacting device travels along the trolley wire.

10. A traveling contactor construction comprising an extended conductor having a sheath 7 I of insulating material and anextended trolley wire supported therein, said sheath including teeth providing spaced openings therebetween exposing portions of said wire,'a traveling con- 'tactor including an endless series of articulated teeth for engaging the teeth or said sheath and for contacting said wire whilealso engaged with said bus bar, and means for supporting said teeth tor movement as the contacting device travels: I

along the trolley wire. 7 11. Atraveling contactor construction comprising an extended conductor having a sheath of insulating material and ang 'extended trolley wire supported 'therein; said sheath including teeth providing" spaced openings 'therebetween exposing portions oi saidwire,a traveling contactor including a bus barior movement parallel to and spaced from said wire, an endless series 0! articulated teeth for engaging the teeth or said sheath and forv contacting said wire while also engaged with said bus bar, and means forisupporting said teeth for movement'as the contacting device travels along the trolley wire, said mounting means including a single pulley disposed beneath said bus bar.

12. A traveling contactor construction comprising an extended conductor having a sheath of insulating material and an extended trolley wire supported therein, said sheath including teeth providing spaced openings therebetween exposing portions of said wire, a traveling contactor including a bus bar for movement parallel to and spaced from said wire, an endless series of articulated teeth for engaging the teeth of said sheath and for contacting said wire while also engaged with said bus bar, and means for supporting said teeth for movement as the contacting device travels along the trolley wire, said mounting means including a single pulley disposed beneath said bus bar, and means for guiding said teeth into engagement with and out of engagement with said bus bar.

BURTIS W. BENBOW. 

